THETFORD Town's players received a standing ovation when they came off the pitch after beating Downham Town 3-0.It put an end to a dismal run that has seen the side lose nine matches on the trot, seven of which had ended in narrow 2-1 defeats.

THETFORD Town's players received a standing ovation when they came off the pitch after beating Downham Town 3-0.

It put an end to a dismal run that has seen the side lose nine matches on the trot, seven of which had ended in narrow 2-1 defeats.

This Saturday the first team are hoping to keep the momentum going at Debenham (3pm kick-off).

This inexperienced bunch of players, who have worked so hard this season, deserved their victory and it was evident that the missing link had been found in new striker Rob Browne, the son of ex-Thetford stalwart Adrian.

Browne, who was signed from Hempnall, capped a fine debut with two goals and could easily have had a hat-trick but showed what a fine team player he is by opting to pass to Simon Mann when free.

As early as the fifth minute Browne looked the part when he turned from 20 yards and put in a snap shot that the Downham keeper turned away for a corner.

His pace was causing all sorts of problems for Downham and with Simon Mann and Sam Bryant in support Thetford looked menacing for the first time in ages. The ever-reliable Sam Bryant put Thetford 1-0 ahead against the run of play in the first half. Downham, in high spirits after beating Diss last week, hit the bar and had 17-year-old Matt Terry not pulled off two spectacular saves Thetford could have been behind.

Browne's debut goal had class written all over it when he chased a lost cause into the corner and superbly turned his marker, ran across the 18-yard box, beating two players and curling a right- foot shot into the top corner.

When he added a second within minutes he was already a hero with both players and supporters. With the loss of Karl Pask last season Thetford have struggled in front of goal on a regular basis but now, with the addition of Browne with Mann and Bryant, Thetford's three-pronged attack looks very menacing indeed.

This result was a credit to the clubs management staff, coaches and players who stuck to the task despite loss of expenses, and a run of defeats which would normally have seen an exodus of players. One person in particular who deserves credit is new coach Bobby Briggs who has shared his superb coaching skills with the players.

Manager Mick Money said: “I believe in Bobby we have got one of the best coaches in Norfolk. He will bring the best out of the players and already they are responding to his coaching expertise, his enthusiasm is infectious and his experience paramount.”

Kwame Jones and Simon Jackson have decided to join Hempnall and the club wishes both players all the best for the future.

Sam Giacomelli just pipped the consistent Lee Devlin and Craig Skipp for the Player of the Month award for January. He does a no-nonsense job either as centre-half or holding midfield.